This was originally posted to the Adams Morgan Listserv on June 29, 2018, as message #48759, groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/AdamsMorgan/conversations/messages/48759
On Wednesday the City Council held hearing for Bill B22-821 the disposition of the publicly owned Lot. 105 in Square 2892 just off of Georgia Avenue in ANC1A SMD 09.
Initially I thought it was a joke, but ANC1A proposed the public land be exchanged for a Triceratops (Dinosaur) head as the main community benefit.
Eric Zuckerman testified (23:00) at the hearing on behalf of ZP Georgia, LLC the private entity wishing to purchase the public land. He testified that he had the full support of ANC1A and Georgia Avenue Thrive for the surplus, disposition and acquisition of the parcel.
It is my belief that Mr. Zuckerman’s testimony and that of his attorney was meant to mislead the City Council on their plans and use for the parcel in order to suppress the value and therefore community benefits expected. Thus exposing ANC1A lack of seriousness when it comes to protecting the public interest and transparency. Mr. Zuckerman would have the Council to believe that the acquired parcel will only be used for parking or green pace for current retail. When in reality it’s the missing piece of a 105 unity luxury housing project which for which they have a PUD. Yes, they got The Zoning Commission to approve a PUD for private use of public land.
It is my belief that parking lot/green space ploy is designed to avoid efforts to including additional affordability requirements in their housing project, as well the scope of local hiring requirements. The Zuckerman project for this site is coming up on the end of their two year extension on their PUD, 9/30/18(?)[ Zoning Cases 13-10, 10a]. Testimony and answers to council’s questions were designed to leave the impression that the 105 unit luxury project is a no go, yet they want emergency legislation to move long the disposition. Which I believe will be follow by a request for an addition extension.
Like the community benefits packages negotiated by ANC1A on the Zuckerman property at 3333 Georgia Avenue [Zoning Cases 10-26,26A,26B, 26C,26D], a package which is void because it does not comply with rules for such packages, Zuckerman’s will get to continue to land bank as land values rise and not have a community benefits package associated with either of these projects.
It is not anti-development to look after legitimate public interests. One of the key arguments made by the city for it’s Comp Plan amendments is that they allow ANC’s and others to negotiate affordable housing and other public needs via PUDs. The example above is one of the reason I reject this argument. Like ANC1A most ANC’s are either up willing or unable to negotiate seriously on behalf of the public interest. Unless the public needs a dinosaur head, instead of affordable housing.
William